Punching mechanism for eyeleting-machines, &amp;c.



v R. B. SMITH. PUNGHING MECHANISM FOR EYELETING MACHINES, &0. APPLICATION nun APR.16, 19o1.- RENEWED 0012.21, 1903'.

1,016,717, Patented Feb. 6,1912.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT B. SMITH, OF QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MA- CHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PUNCHING MECHANISM FOR EYELETING-MAGHINES, &0.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

Application filed April 16, 1901, Serial No. 56,247. Renewed October 27, 1.903. Serial No. 178,789.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT B. SMITH, a subject of Great Britain, residing at Quincy, in the county of Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Punching Mechanisms for Eyeleting-Machines and the Like, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

In eyeleting machines as heretofore constructed, as for example in U. S. Letter Patent to L. C. Emerson, No. 332,334, granted December 15, 1885, to which reference may be had, the block against which the punch acts in making the hole in the work for the reception of the eyelet has hitherto been mounted in the machine in a fixed and unyielding manner. This has necessitated great accuracy in the setting of the punch or cutter. Should the latter be set a trifle too low on its carrying arm or lever, so as to cause the cutting end thereof to encounter the cutting block or die too early in the descent of the punch, the opposition to the continued descent of the punch thereby occasioned would result either in stopping the working of the parts whlch are concerned in the actuation of the punch, and also in causing the driving band to throw or slip off, or in breakage of the punch or at some point in the train of punch-actuatlng mechanism. Steel has heretofore been employed as the material of which to form the cutting block or die, but, on account of its hardness and the drawbacks which are 11101 dent thereto, the use of brass has been deemed preferable, because its comparative softness permits the cutting edge of the punch or cutter to enter slightly into the same in case a slight error in the adjustment of the punch or cutter should involve a somewhat too low position thereof on its carrying arm or lever. A drawback incident to the employment of brass, however, is the fact that it soon becomes out by the punch or cutter, forming a groove or depression therein corresponding with the edge of the cutter, and into which said edge enters after passing through the work. The entrance of the said edge into the said groove or depression, when accompanied by a slight deflection of the tool from any cause, as, for example, when a small piece of leather or other substance enters the groove or depression at the same time with the punch or cutter, frequently oc casions a breakage of the cutting edge itself, necessitating the replacement of the punch or cutter, and also of the cutting-block or die. The comparatively rapid wear of the brass-block necessitates early facing-down of the same, and resetting of the punch to compensate for the effects thereof. The brass block requires to be incased by steel to prevent the same from being driven by the strokes of the punch out of the socket for the reception of the cutting-block, through the hole which is formed at the lower end of said socket to permit a tool to be inserted from below for the purpose of ejecting the cutting-block by pushing it upwardly out 01 the socket. After one facing down the cutting-block, when again worn, must be replaced by a new one, which increases the expense in connection with the eyeleting machine. The casing adds to the diameter of the cutting-block necessitating a larger slot in the work-supporting plate than a block of proper size to cooperate with the punch would otherwise require. Hence the work is liable to be depressed into the said slot by the action of the set or feed-point in entering the hole just punched preliminary to feeding the work along, with resulting displacement of said hole and failure of the eyelet to enter properly, and damage to the work. Similar objections exist in the case of other soft material used to secure yielding, action. As the wear of the block under the action of the punch thereagainst increases, the hole that the punch makes in the work enlarges, because of the taper of the exterior of the punch, and because the leather is sunk by the action of the punch into the hole in the block before the punch cuts.

The objects of the invention are to render precise adjustment or setting of the punch or cutter less important and essential than heretofore to obviate tendency to stoppage or injury and breakage as a result of setting the punch or cutter too low; and to enable a cutting block or die of hardened steel to be employed without danger of accidents resulting from lack of proper adjustment. The hardened steel block which I propose to employ is not subject to wear like the brass block heretofore employed. In consequence, it maintains throughout use aperfect surface for coaction with the edge of the punch or setter. The steel block may be made narrower than the brass block and easing heretofore used, enabling the slot in the work plate to be made narrower, thereby rendering the work-plate better capable of supporting work, and eliminating possibility of the work being carried down into said slot by the top set or feed point in entering the hole just punched. Thereby improper placing of the eyelet in being set is rendered impossible.

In the drawings,Figure 1 is a view, partly in side-elevation and partly in vertical section, of a portion of the punching mechanism of an eyeleting machine. Fig. 2 is a plan of portion of the work-plate, the cutting block or die and its support, and portion of the work-supporting plate.

Having reference to the drawings,1 designates the punch, and 2 the punch-carrying lever.

3 is the support for the cutting-block, and 4 is the said cutting-block. 5 is the chamber or recess in the said support 3 for the reception of the cutting-block.

I I form the cutting-block 4 preferably of hardened steel as aforesaid, and with the same I combine an elastic backing, suitably applied and arranged to support the cutting block against the stroke of the punch or cutter. The said elastic backing is designed to uphold the cutting block and'the work above the same against the action of the punch or cutter, but to give or yield when the punch or cutter makes contact with the surface of the cutting-block at the conclusion of its stroke. The construction and arrangement of the parts may be varied in practice, and consequently, so far as the broad principles of the invention are concerned, I do not limit myself to the particular manner of carrying the invention into effect which is illustrated in the drawings. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the cutting-block is fitted within the upper portion of the chamber or recess 5 in the support 3, and within said chamber or recess is located the spring 42 which constitutes the yielding backing for the cutting block. This spring surrounds the stem 41 of the said block, between the shoulder 43 on the upper portion thereof, and the bot tom of the chamber or recess. The lower end of the stem projects through a hole in the support and receives below a portion of the latter the nuts 6 6 by means of which the cutting block is held in place and the tension of its spring is adjusted. The top I portion of the cutting-block projects through the slot 7 in the work-supporting plate 71. In the operation of the machine, as the pivotally-mounted support 3 is swung transversely, the said portion of the cutting-block travels lengthwise of the slot.

For the purpose of enabling the slot 7 to be made as narrow as possible, the said top portion of the cutting block is made of a width just a trifle greater than the diameter of the punch. For the purpose of enabling the block to be held from turning when the nuts 6 6 are turned upon its stem, the block is made oblong, and its end-portions are entered into notches 51 51 which are formed for their reception at opposite sides of the chamber or recess in the support. The upper end of the stem of the block is formed with a collar 44 that fits the chamber or recess and steadies and centers the block. The nuts 6 6 prevent the cutting-block from becoming displaced out of the socket.

I claim as my invention 1. In combination, the punch, the hard metal cutting-block against the face of which the punch effects the cutting of the material being punched, and the yielding backing by which the said cutting-block is sustained entirely during the punching operation, substantially as described.

2. In combination, the punch, the hard cutting-block with the face of which the punch cooperates in efiecting the cutting of the material being punched, the support having the socket, the yielding backing within the said socket by which the said outting-block is sustained during the punching operation, and means for preventing displacement of the cutting-block from the socket, substantially as described.

3. In combination, the punch, the cuttingblock, the support having the socket, the yielding backing within the socket, the nuts applied to the stem of the cutting-block, and means for holding the cutting-block from turning, substantially as described.

4. In combination, the punch, the oblong cutting-block, having the threaded stem, the support having the socket and shaped to fit the said cutting-block to prevent turning thereof, the yielding backing within the socket, and the nuts applied to the said stem, substantially as described.

5. In combination, the punch, the hard metal cutting-block, and a yielding backing for one of said parts which sustains the same entirely during the punching operation and gives or yields when the punch or cutter and the surface of the cutting-block make contact with each other at the conclusion of the working stroke.

6. In combination, the punch, its carrying lever, a cutting-block or die, a support therefor, the said lever and support mounted to swing transversely in unison, and the worksupporting plate formed with the slot within which the cutting-block or die travels in the swinging movements of the lever and support.

7. In combination, a punch, a hard metal cutting-block,-and a yielding mounting for the said cutting-block permitting the latter to accommodate itself to the working extremity of the said punch.

8. In combination, a punch, a yielding cutting-block which accommodates itself to the working extremity of the said punch and against the face of which the punch effects the cutting, and means to adjust the height of the said cutting-block.

9. In combination, the work-supporting plate having the slot 7, the oblong cuttingblock working in the said slot and corresponding substantially in width with the slot,the support 3 movable in the direction of the length of the said slot, and the punch. 10. The work-supporting plate having the slot, the cutting-block working in the said slot, the punch, the punch-carrying lever, and the pivotally-mounted support for the said cutting-block having the said lever mounted thereon.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT B. SMITH. Witnesses:

CHAs. F. RANDALL, ARTHUR F. RANDALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 

